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Afan Argoed Cross Duathlon Championships

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Even Storm Arwen couldn’t disrupt the proceedings at Afan Argoed, as the Escape to Afan Cross Duathlon, held by Tough Runner, hosted the 2021 National Cross Duathlon Championships. As the 2021 event season drew to a close, athletes from far and wide descended to Afan Argoed in what was the final National Championship event of the 2021 season. With conditions heavy underfoot and disruption effecting many parts of the country, credit to the event organisers for being able to deliver a safe event in testing conditions.

 

As the enthusiastic participants set off from under the Tough Runner dragon, it was a leading pack of Lewis Williams, Adam Brown and Tom foster who led the way across the first run. The pack of three working in unison to generate a minute lead over fourth placed Adam Whitaker, who was closely followed by Dan Elliot and Alex Bath. Within the female race, Grace Williams was the first lady to return to transition in a time of 24:19, followed by GOG Tri’s Emer Sandham who was next in with a time of 26:54.

As the rest of the field returned from the first run, the front runners were making progress through the bike leg. The three leaders from the run extended their distance from the rest of the field with all three posting the three quickest splits over the bike leg, but this also saw Williams extend his lead over brown by 45 seconds before exiting transition for the final run.

Elsewhere across the categories, there was a battle throughout in the male veteran category between John Fitzpatrick and Andrew Fraser Cole. They were quickly followed by Mike Tate in the Male Vintage Veteran Category.  As Grace Williams and Emer Sandham led from the front within the women’s race, they were quickly followed by Elizabeth Kemp and Helen Woodman.

 

With all participants in full swing, the leading three maintained their positions until the very end with Lewis Williams winning the overall race in a time of 1:01:18, 1minute 22 seconds ahead of second place Adam Brown, followed by Tom Foster in third who completed the course in a time of 1:03:27.

The female race was also hotly contested, with Grace Williams regaining the overall lead on the final run from Sandham to finish in an overall time of 1:24:24, ninety seconds ahead of Sandham in second place. Third placed woman was Elizabeth Kemp, a further three minutes behind in a final time of 1:29:39.

A full list of race results can be found by clicking this link.

With the event being a National Championships, it was of course an opportunity for Welsh Triathlon Members to compete.  Traditionally, the cross duathlon is the event with the least representation across the multisport disciplines, however, next season will see a growth of cross opportunities as the event calendar expands and new locations open their doors to off-road running and cycling. 

 

The Welsh Triathlon Cross Duathlon Championship Winners are as follows.

 

Senior Male Category          
1 Adam Brown 01:02:40 18:47.0 32:43.9 09:41.5
2 Tom Foster 01:03:27 18:48.0 34:38.8 09:03.5
3                                      Adam Whittaker  01:06:49 19:56.0 35:45.4 09:46.5

 

Veteran Male Category           
1 John Fitzpatrick 01:09:35 21:18.0 34:44.0 10:44.0
2 Andrew Fraser-Cole 01:10:09 21:37.0 35:38.6 11:02.8
3 Gethin Parham 01:18:33 22:51.0 42:59.1 11:05.1

 

Vintage Veteran Male          
1 Mike Tate 01:13:27 22:53.0 37:00.3 11:23.3
2 Jon Heissig 01:16:27 23:47.0 39:12.8 11:30.3
3 Dabid Forbes 01:20:26 23:48.0 41:47.4 12:12.4

 

Super Veteran Male          
1                                  Malcolm Harrison 01:45:14 34:32.0 51:41.8 17:15.8

 

Super Vintage Veteran Male

         
1 Paul Belcher 01:39:50 30:07.0 53:05.6 14:41.1

 

Veteran Female          
1                                    Emer Sandham 01:26:00 26:54.0 44:44.6 12:37.3
2 Rosie Davies 01:41:12 29:40.0 53:49.1 13:22.3

 

Vintage Veteran Female          
1 Dinah Hazeldine 02:18:40 41:28.0 11:59.0 22:31.9
2 Debrorah Robinson 02:34:07 41:33.0 25:52.8 23:18.4
3 Janice Hearne 02:35:27 44:29:0 19:24.3 24:22.7

 

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